Green Heroes - Kim Cotton, BGI Fundraiser

In the first of our new series introducing your local green heroes, we meet Kim Cotton, 35, wife to Paul and mum to Becky (7) and Thomas (4). She lives in Hythe, on the edge of the beautiful New Forest.

She is raising money for the BGI by running three half marathons in 2009, two marathons in 2010, one ultra marathon in 2011 and the Marathon des Sables in 2012. No mean feat and most certainly worthy of the title ‘Big Green Hero'.

First things first...with so many charities out there, why the BGI?

I was hooked by the first series of It's Not Easy Being Green as it looked such a fantastic thing to be able to do. I've never been one to waste money and have always tried to be green, but this made me think a bit more. Finding the Newhouse Farm forum was like coming home. There were people there who thought like I did, and opened my eyes to so many other ideas that have now become a way of life.

The BGI is such a great concept and if I can help in some way to get its message out to the public to help them on their way to a greener lifestyle then I will be happy. It's easy to forget things may seem daunting at first with so many different things you can do and no idea where to start, but the BGI has easily accessible and digestible information, and the bus gives it something tangible for people to see and go to.

There must be easier ways to raise money! What inspired you to run marathons?

Watching Peter Duncan from Blue Peter run the first London marathon in 1981 when I was 8, made a big impression on me. Even at that age I knew it was going to be something extraordinary and I wanted to be part of the emotion of completing something like that. I would watch the marathon every April and would always be hit by the wow factor and the sheer ‘bigness' of the event - so many people running for so many reasons. Every time I watched it I said that one day I would do it.

Also I've met so many friends through a running blog and each of them inspires me in some way - from once-elite runners who won races, to people like me - back-of-the-pack beginners.

So have you any running experience? It's certainly not a sport for the faint hearted!

When I finished school in 1989 I left running behind, very glad not to have to endure being at the back trying to get round the cross country route - I hated cross country! I tried running once after that as I liked the idea of it, but I practically sprinted half a mile round the block and almost collapsed with the effort when I got home. Not the way to go about it! After that I had my kids and gained more than a few pounds in weight and did no exercise.

In 2003 my dad died from cancer and, after I had my son in 2004, I entered the 2005 Race for Life. Because I was so overweight and unfit I walked it, but returned the next year, having lost three stones, and ran all the way. Then a place in the 2007 London marathon came my way. After securing the place, however, the three stones plus a bit more went back on, I got injured trying to follow a too ambitious training plan, and when April came round I had a pretty dismal time. The first three miles were fantastic with awesome crowds and just what I'd imagined, but after having to queue for the loo and dropping to the back, I ended up walking the rest of the way and finished in eight hours with the course being dismantled around me and the crowds long gone.

I've never given up though, and so far have completed two 10 kilometre runs, a 10 mile run, three half marathons and two full marathons. I've never seen myself as a runner, I'm certainly not your typical shape and have had to put up with all sorts of comments, but I remind myself that I am the one doing the exercise and improving my health, fitness and self-esteem. I am a completely different person to the one I was three years ago when there was no way I would contemplate running to the end of the road, let alone do what I'm facing now.

So when are the marathons?

I will be running three half marathons in 2009 (13.1 miles each), two full marathons in 2010, one ultra marathon in 2011 and the notorious six day Marathon des Sables in 2012.

So far the half marathons will be Reading on the 29th March 2009 followed by the Torbay half marathon on 21st June. The last half marathon in the autumn has yet to be decided.

How much do you hope to raise? How do we sponsor you?

I'm initially aiming to raise at least £5,000, but hope to double that as I get closer to the Marathon de Sables. People can donate straight to the BGI through the BGI website (but please let me know how much so I can keep a tally on what they've had on my behalf), or through eBay auctions, or by sending cheques etc straight to me. My website will be kept up to date with various events and fundraising opportunities. At the moment I have a finishing time sweepstake on to guess my Reading time, plus a fundraising 80's disco on the 21st March.

Planning is also well under way for a few other events during the year though I would still like to secure some corporate sponsorship to help with running costs and race entry. Hopefully as I was in the local paper last year and have just featured on Radio Solent some time soon people will start taking an interest. I'm hoping to secure larger 'items' I can auction on eBay, be it a product or a service etc.

I'm also putting together a newsletter to distribute locally, but will also be available via email, so if anyone is interested they can get in touch and I will put their names on the mailing list. Lastly, the main thing is to let people know what I'm doing and getting them to pass on the details to everyone they know and so on.

All this can't be easy with a young family. So what about support at home?

My husband Paul has been to every race I've run, and even walked half of the London marathon with me when I was really struggling. It's not been easy fitting in my running round his shift pattern and the kids, but he's always helped where he can, and even took up running for a while so he could do the London marathon himself. The children love looking through my finish medals and my daughter has just signed up for cross-country club at school. They don't really pay that much attention yet, but enjoy coming along to the shorter races.

Finally then, just between us...how much weight have you lost??

I reached over 17 stones after the birth of my second child but managed to lose 3 stones during the 18 months after his birth. But then a few things went wrong in my life and I piled it all back on plus a bit more. I have been back at Slimming World for just over a year now and have lost 4 stones, with a couple more at least to get rid of this year. It's not only the weight, I've lost several inches off my hips, waist and bust and dropped from a 22-24 to a 16 in dress size.

If you would like to donate money to Kim's amazing fundraising and help the BGI please donate here:
www.thebiggreenidea.org/donate/

or email her directly on:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

There is also an online running blog at:
www.realbuzz.com/blogs/u/kizzi10000/from-obese-mum-to-marathon-runner

And don't worry, we'll let you know how she gets on!!

Jo

photos (c) Kim Cotton 2009